Gun-silencer and recoil-reducer.



E. W. THOMPSON.

GUN SILENCER AND RECOIL REDUCER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1916.

Patented June 12, 1917.

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EUGENE W. THQMPSON, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

GUN-SILENCEB AND RECOIL-BEDUCEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 12 1917.

Application filed March 2, 1916. Serial N0. 81,767.

lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same. a

This invention relates to the art of fire arms, such as rifled guns forartillery and coast defenses, and particularly to a structure of adevice for lessening or overcoming the noise of the discharge, and atthe same time reducing the recoil of the gun.

An object of the invention is to improve, simplify, and render moreeflicient, the structure of the silencer, set forth, shown in thedrawings, and claimed in the patent to Eugene W. Thompson, No.1,173,687, patented February 29, 1916.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a gun having thebore provided with a series of air chambers and perforations, forpermitting the escape of the gases slowly through said chambers orperforations, or apertures, which chambers may either be made integralor removable, or separated, in order to permit the gases to es cape inadvance of the projectile, thereby lessening or overcoming the noiseincident to the discharge, and at the same time, relieving the recoil,owing to the chambers terminating near or adjacent where the projectileleaves the shell.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of perforatedspools, sleeves or bushings arranged in the bore of the gun axiallyalined from near the breech or adjacent'where the projectile leaves theshell to.the muzzle of the gun, there being a cap screwed into theend'of the bore to hold said parts axially alined. The arrangement ofthese parts in the bore of the gun lessens the noise, and at the sametime efiiciently relieves the recoil.

In practical fields, the details of construction may necessitatealterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a sectional view through a gun showing thesame constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates an elevation of one of the sleeves or bushings.

FFig. 3, is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 4 is a detailed view inelevation of another one of the sleeves, bushings, or spools.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on Fig. 4:.

6 is a side elevation of another sleeve.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of another sleeve which is threaded.

9 is an end elevation of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of another bushing.

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of 10.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the threaded cap in the end of the bore.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on line 1313 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1% is a view in section of a modified form of gun barrel.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view on line 1515 of Fig. 1d.

Fig. 16 is a sectional View on line 16l6 of Fig. 14. Referring moreparticularly to the drawngs, 1 deslgnates the barrel of the gun havmgthe usual combustion chamber adjacent line 55 of the breech of thebarrel, said chamber be-' ing designated by the numeral 2, and designedfor the reception of the shell 3, the pro ectile 4 of which extends intothe bore '5 of the breech end of the barrel. Just slightly beyond theprojectile, the barrel is bored out or reamed to form a series of radialtongues 6 and 6, spaced apart as shown in Fig. 1, to form chambers 7,from a to Z). From the radial tongues to the extremity of the muzzle 8of the barrel the bore 9 is substantially cylindrical, and which bore isthreaded from 0 to d. Arranged in I the bore 9 adjacent the tongues 6*is a sleeve or bushing 10, and the assage 11 through the bushing 10 forhalf its length is larger than the passage 12 through the other half ofthe bushing or sleeve 10. In Z other words the passage 12 is contractedto a size to correspond with the diameter of the bore 5, whereas thepassage 11 is larger, thereby forming a chamber 13. The wall of thebushing or sleeve 10 adjacent the pasor sleeve 15.

sage 12, is provided with a plurality of apertures, or perforations14,-to permit the escape of the gases, in advance of the projectile.Arranged adjacent the bushing or sleeve 10 is a second sleeve or bushingor spool 15, the passage or bore 16 of which corresponds in diameter, tothe diameters of the passage 12 and the bore 5. The sleeve or bushing 15is provided with a chamber or passage 17, larger in diameter than thebore or passage 16 and into which chamber 17 the gases escaping throughthe apertures 14 pass, in advance of the projectile, after it has leftthe shells. I Owing to the gases being in advance of the projectile,they would precede the projectile through the passage or bore 16substantially. The sleeve or bushing 15 has a contracted tapered end 18and an adjoining shoulder 19, and in the wall of the'reduced tapered end18, a plurality of apertures20 is formed, through which the gases inescaping must pass. A sleeve or bushing 21 somewhat similar to thebushing or sleeve 10 is arranged in the bore 9 in contact with theshoulder '19 of the bushing However, the chamber 22-of the bushing orsleeve 21, is substantially the same diameter as the passage or chamber13 of the sleeve or bushing 10, but is of a greater length,and thesleeve or bushing 21 is more elongated than the sleeve or bushing 10.The passage 23 of the sleeve or bushing 21 is shorter than the passage12 of the bushing 10, but is of a diameter corresponding to the diameterof the passage 12 and the bore 5. The wall of the bushing or sleeve 21adjacent the passage 23 is provided with a series of perforations orapertures 24, through which the gases from the chamber 22 pass. Arrangedin the bore 9, but near the muzzle end of the barrel is a cylindricalsleeve 25 having threads to engage the threads 26 near the muzzle end ofthe barrel. This sleeve 25 not only-forms an elongated chamber 27 of adiameter equal or corresponding to the diameters of the chambers 13 and17, but also constitutes means for assisting in holding the firstmentioned sleeves or bushings in the bore of the barrel. Arranged adjacent to and contacting with the sleeve 25 is an annular band orbushing 28, which also engages the threads 26. The bushing or band 28has a. passage 29 corresponding in diameter to the passages 12, 19 and23 and the diameter of the bore 5. The bushing or band 28 in its wall isprovided with perforations or apertures, to permit the escape of thegases. Also threaded into the muzzle end of the barrel is a cap orclamping sleeve 30, which together with the band or bushing 28 and thesleeve 25,. constitutes combined means for holding the first mentionedparts in place. The diameter of the elongated bore 31 of the cap orretaining sleeve 30 is of a diameter corresponding to the diameters ofthe passages 12, 16, 23 and 29,

which act to guide the projectile axially with the barrel subsequentlyto it having left the bore 5, adjacent the combustion chambbr 2. Thegases as they leavethe apertures or perforations 28 pass into thechamber 33, between the cap or sleeve 30 and the band or bushing 28, soas to pass out through the bore 31 immediately prior to the projectilepassing through the bushing or band 28. The passing of the gases throughthe different chambers and perforations in advance of the projectile notonly silences the noise incident to the discharge, but also materiallyrelieves the recoil. In the construction shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16,the gun barrel is turned down or reduced from the breech end 2, to theextremity of the muzzle, and in turning or reducing the barrel anannular collar 2 (which is threaded at 2) is formed, and also a seriesof annular recesses or grooves and collars 3 and 4 are formed, from thecollar 2 to the end of the muzzle, said collars 4 alternating with theannular recesses. After reducing the barrel and forming the alter natelyarranged recesses and collars, a tubular shell or casing 5 is fittedtelescopically on the barrel and in close contact with said collars,thereby closing the annular recesses and forming the gas chambersalternating with the collars or walls 4. The collars 4 are provided withsemicircular grooves or recesses 6. The grooves or recesses 6 of onecollar are alined with the corresponding recesses or grooves of theother collars. The alined grooves or recesses 6 are parallel to the axisor bore of the gun barrel, and are cut from the breech end to the muzzleend of thegun, and their depths correspond with the depths of circularor annular grooves, recesses or chambers 3. The wall of the gun barrelis provided with a series of apertures or openings 7 which open into theannular recesses, grooves or chambers 3, and by virtue of the aperturescommuni cation is attained between the bore'of the gun barrel and saidchambers 3. The inner circumference of the shell or tube at its innerend is provided with threads to engage the threads 2, thereby securingthe tubular shell in place. The object of this improved device,especially the construction thereof shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16, is toreduce the amount of recoil, at the same time maintaining approximatelythe same velocity of the projectile, that may be fired from a rifle orgun barrel not constructed with the above equipment, and to reduce thenoise or sound incident to the explosion to a minimum. This improved gunor .rifie barrel may be constructed from any suitable material,preferably a solid steel bar, and

rifled (not shown) with a standard gage-of of projectile. Immediatelyfollowing the explosion and the starting of the projectilegun or barreland escape to the atmosphere.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and usefulis:

1. In combination with a gun barrel having an elongated chambersubstantially immediately beyond the bore of the breech of the barreland provided with a cylindrical bore beyond said chamber and being of adiameter intermediate the diameters of the chamber and the bore of thebreech of the barrel, a series of bushings or sleeves arranged axiallyin the cylindrical bore, and means threaded into the muzzle end of thebarrel for retaining the sleeves or bushings in place.

2. In combination with a gun barrel having an elongated chambersubstantially immediately beyond the bore of the breech of the barreland provided with a cylindrical bore beyond said chamber and being of adiameter intermediate the diameters of the chamber and the bore of thebreech of the barrel, a series of bushings or sleeves arranged axiallyin the cylindrical bore, and means threaded into the muzzle end of thebarrel for retaining the sleeves or bushings in place, said chamberadjacent the bore of the breech of the barrel having radial tongues,having their inner ends spaced apart corresponding to the diameter ofthe bore of the breech.

3. In combination with a gun barrel having an elongated chambersubstantially immediately beyond the bore of the breech of the barreland provided with a cylindrical bore beyond said chamber and being of adiameter intermediate the diameters of the chamber and thebore of thebreech of the barrel, a'series of bushings or sleeves arranged axiallyin the cylindrical bore, and means threaded into the muzzleend of thebarrel for retainin the sleeves or bushings in place, said bus ings orsleeves having chambers of diameters larger than the diameter of thebore of the breech of the barrel, and provided with passages ofdiameterscorresponding to the diameter of the bore of the'breech of the barrel,said passages of the sleeves or bushing being arranged alternately withthe chambers of the sleeves'or bushings.

4:. In combination with a gun barrel having an elongated chambersubstantially immediately beyond the bore of the breech of the barreland provided with a cylindrical bore beyond said chamber and being of adiameter intermediate the diameters of the chamber and the bore of thebreech of the barrel, a series of bushings or sleeves arrangedaxially'in the cylindrical bore and means threaded into the muzzle endof the barrel for retaining the sleeves or bushings in place, saidbushings or sleeves having chambers of diameters larger than thediameter of the bore of the breech of the barrel, and provided withpassages of diameters corresponding to the diameter of the bore of thebreech of the barrel, said passages of the sleeves or bushings beingarranged alternately with the chambers of the sleeves or bushings, saidsleeves or bushings in their Walls having perforations, to permit thegases to escape in advance of the projectile.

5. In combination with a gun barrel an elongated chamber substantiallyimmediately beyond the bore of the breech of the barrel and providedwith a cylindrical bore beyond said chamber and being of a diameterintermediate the diameters of the chamber and the bore of the breech ofthe barrel, a series of bushings or sleeves arranged axially in thecylindrical bore, and means threaded into the muzzle end of the barrelfor retaining the sleeves or bushings in place said chamber adjacent thebore of the breech of the barrel having radial tongues, having theirinner ends spaced apart corresponding to the diameter of the bore of thebreech, said bushings or sleeves having chambers of diameters largerthan the diameter of the bore of the breech of the'barrel, and providedwith passages of diameters corresponding to the diameter of the bore ofthe breech of the barrel, said passages of the sleeves or bushings beingarranged alternately with the chambers -of the sleeves or'bushings, saidsleeves or bushings in their walls having perforations, to per mit thegases to escape in advance of the projectile.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribin witnesses.

E GENE W. THOMPSON. Witnesses:

HERBERT G. STILES,

ARTHUR T. Kenna.

